Wintering a Geriatric Horse

Depending on where you live, your equine companions might have to tough it through harsh conditions in the winter months. No matter their age, most horses entering the winter season in good condition will do fine on the same routine with only minor changes. But what about the geriatric horse? It is important to realize the difference between old and geriatric. If the aged horse is in good body condition, healthy, and active even at 20-plus years, he is simply just an older horse, and it might not be necessary to make any special preparations for winter. However, as horses enter their senior years, arthritis, dental abnormalities, weight loss, and endocrine dysfunction are a few conditions that might classify the aged horse as geriatric. Wintering the geriatric horse is somewhat more challenging, but can be successfully accomplished.

As with human athletes, years of stress, injuries, and general wear and tear can result in painful and crippling arthritic changes in older horses. Also as with humans, the cold, damp conditions of winter make arthritis pain even worse. Proper management can help your horse stay healthy despite winter adversities.

Do not keep your horse confined to a stall unless recommended by your veterinarian for medical purposes. Ideally there should be free access to turnout, with good shelter from the elements available. The more the horse has an opportunity to exercise, the better. It is not uncommon for the arthritic horse to become reluctant to lie down due to difficulty in getting back up. Be sure to use plenty of bedding in his stall if you must bring him in. Not only will bedding provide warmth, but it will also provide a cushion for his elbows and hocks, prime spots for abrasions to occur if the horse struggles to get up or is down for prolonged periods of time. If his stall floor is covered with rubber matting and the straw or shavings are wet, the surface can become very slippery.

Blanketing might be needed in severe winter climates, and proper fit is essential when blanketing any horse. If using a turnout rug, be sure the material is water-resistant and breathable. Blankets should only be used if someone is available to check their fit on the horse at least twice a day.

Older horses are more sensitive to severe weather, be it heat or cold, and often suffer weight loss when temperature fluctuations are extreme. Higher energy needs in winter can be met by increasing feed in a more highly digestible form such as pelleted or extruded feeds designed specifically for older horses. Impaction problems can be reduced by ensuring free access to clean, fresh, unfrozen water in the winter. Just breaking the ice in the tank is not enough. There are several devices available to help keep water buckets and stock tanks from freezing and to keep the water at more optimal temperatures for drinking. If your horse does not drink well, feed water-soaked feeds (one to two gallons of water per feeding) to help increase his fluid intake.

Poor dentition can result in the inability to adequately chew hay or feed. The geriatric horse should have his teeth checked by an experienced equine dentist at least every six months. If the horse has dental problems that are not correctable (such as missing teeth or severe wave mouth), he will benefit from a diet of "soups" of soaked hay cubes or beet pulp plus pelleted or extruded feeds offered at least twice a day. Soaked feeds can easily freeze in the winter, so only offer amounts that can be consumed in a single meal. Rely on the advice of your veterinarian or nutritionist for the proper recipe for your horse.

Remember, weight loss can be due to many conditions. If vaccination, deworming, and dental care schedules are up to date and your aged horse is still not maintaining weight, have your veterinarian perform lab work to check for metabolic disorders, malabsorption, and liver or kidney dysfunctions.

Geriatric horses can live for years comfortably. The winter season, however, provides an extra challenge. Adequate shelter, good footing with the ability to exercise freely, free access to fresh, unfrozen water, and good-quality hay and feed are all necessary for geriatric horses to survive the stresses of winter weather.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVN, is an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science at Cook College, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research recently has focused on glucose/insulin metabolism and growth in young horses. She has also done studies on vitamin supplementation, transportation stress, and nutrition of aged horses. Lori Roberts is Director of Owner Education for the AAEP.

About the Author

AAEP Mission: To improve the health and welfare of the horse, to further the professional development of its members, and to provide resources and leadership for the benefit of the equine industry. More information: www.aaep.org.

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com. Learn More

Article

Article

Article

Article

POLL: Older Horse Care Concerns

What is your biggest concern for your older horse? Please explain in the comments below!

Maintaining weightOsteoarthritis and other lamenessDiseases such as PPID, EMS, and insulin resistanceKeeping them active and movingOther (please specify)I do not own an older horseComments. 100 Characters Max

Featured Adoptable Horse

Draco

Draco is a handsome and well-loved 19 y.o. gentleman with a great sense of humor. He has been a family horse for more than a decade, but due to changing family circumstances, we feel he deserves a new loving home, perhaps with another horse as a ... Read More